Handbag



H. MEYERS Jam 15, 1952 HANDBAG 2' SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 20. 19.48

INVENTOR Henry Meyers BY odmwwww' ATTORNEYS Jan. 15',

H. MEYERS HANDBAG Filed Jan. 20, 1948 2 SI-IEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Jan. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,582,447 HANDBAG Henry Meyers, Norwalk, Conn.

Application January 20 1948, Serial No. 3,302

4 Claims. 1

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a ladies handbag that is neat, compact, light in weight and simple and inexpensive to manufacture, that provides ample room in a minimum of space for articles normally carried in such handbag and retains such articles so that they may conveniently be removed from the bag. Another object of this invention is to provide a neat and compact insert, having a plurality of superposed pockets thereon, which may readily be applied to the conventional ladies handbag, that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and that provides ample room in a minimum of space for retaining those numerous articles to which ready access is desired.

According to the invention these objects are accomplished by the arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described and particularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the handbag in open position,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the insert showing the superposed pockets thereon and with parts taken away, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the insert taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, the particular embodiment of the handbag herein chosen for the illustration of my invention comprises a container ll of leather, suede, fabric or like material commonly used for ladies handbags. The container ll desirably has substantially rectangular side walls l2 and i3 swinging apart and together and pleated end walls I4 and 15, the latter walls each having a V-shaped notch l6 in the upper edge thereof.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of a plurality of superposed pockets positioned in the container ll adjacent side wall 12 thereof, and which are to retain those numerous articles to which ready access is desired.-

In order to support these pockets an insert or mounting panel I! is provided. This panel ll comprises a substantially rectangular stiffening member l8, desirably of cardboard and having a padding or backing IQ of felt, cotton or similar material affixed to the rear wall thereof prefer ably by stitching. I

The front wall of the panel I! has a facing 2 2| of cloth thereon preferably stitched thereto at the border of the panel l1. Facing 2| lies flush with the upper edge of the panel as at 22 but extends beyond the lateral edges 23 thereof and below the lower edge 24 thereof to form side wings 25 and bottom wing 26 as best shown in Fig. 3.

Illustratively four superposed pockets 28, 29, 33 and 3| are provided on panel H in a substantially terraced formation so that each pocket is readily accessible. Pocket 28 is formed from a substantially rectangular sheet 32 of fabric of greater width than that of panel ii. The sheet 32 is folded around a backing liner 33 preferably of cardboard so as to encompass the latter. The folded end 34 of the sheet 32 is afiixed to the panel I! at the lower edge thereof desirably by stitching while each of the lateral edges 35 and 36 of sheet 32 is aflixed as by stitching as at 36' to the corresponding lateral edges of the panel I1, thereby forming the pocket 28. Lateral edge 36 of the sheet 32 is folded to form a pleat therein and cardboard stiffening strips 31 and 38 are provided in each of the walls 39 of the pleat between the plies thereof. The lower edges of each of the walls 39 is then stitched as at 4! to the lower edge of the panel l1.

I'he upper edge 42 of sheet 32 has a tape 43 stitched between the plies thereof, the tape 43 having scoops thereon and forming one half of the zipper closure 44.

A border 45 desirably of material similar to that of the handbag is stitched at its top and side edges 46 to the panel I! so as to be flush with the upper edge 22 and side edges 23 thereof. The lower edge 41 of the border which is not stitched to the panel I! has a tape 48 stitched thereon, the tape 48 having scoops thereon and forming the other half of the zipper closure 44. A slide member 49 is provided which coacts with the scoops on tapes 43 and 48 to close and open pocket 28.

As the tapes 43 and 48 lie in substantially the same'plane against panel 11, their scoops will be flush against the panel and not protrude beyond the face of the pocket 28, thereby occupying a minimum of space.

Pocket 29 which illustratively has no closing means is superposed on pocket 28 and has pleats 5| at the sides thereof to permit expansion of the pocket when a handkerchief, mirror or other article is placed therein, and stiffening members 29' are provided in each of the pleated sides, creased as at 30' to permit ready collapse of such sides; Pocket 29 is formed from a sheet 52 of fabric reversely folded at its top to form a double ply and is affixed as by stitching as at 53 to the lower edge of sheet 32 and panel IT. The bottom of pocket 29 has a pleat 54 therein and a cardboard stiffening member 55 is provided in said pleated portion 54 to provide rigidity thereto. The bottom corners 56 of sheet 52 have each a substantially square segment removed therefrom so that when the bottom of the pocket and the pleats in the sides thereof are formed there will be no launching of material at the corners of the pocket 29 when said pleated portions are compressed.

In order to form the pocket 30, nearly the entire top or fold edge of the front wall 51 of. pocket 29 is slit as at 58 and the fabric at the ends of the slit are stitched as at 51 to prevent ripping thereof. A zipper closure 59 is provided on said top edge to afford a' readily accessible change purse which may conveniently be opened and closed. In order to stiffen pocket 30, stiffening members 6! are aifixed to the inner walls thereof preferably by gluing.

Afiixed to the outer face of pocket 39 is a pocket SI comprising a substantially rectangular strip 62 of fabric affixed at. its bottom edge 63 and at its lateral edges 64 as by stitching to the bottom and lateral edges respectively of the outer face of pocket 35).

Strip 62 is gathered in folds 65 along the length thereof to permit expansion of the pocket 3! in order that it may accommodate a mirror, comb or other articles and an elastic band 66 is provided secured at each end to the respective Iateral edges of pocket 3!! and concealed in a hem 6'! at the top of pocket 3|.

The panel 51 with its superposed pockets is positioned in the handbag against side wall I2 thereof.

A pair of substantially U-shaped frames 69 and desirably of metal is provided for the hand bag. Frame 69 is afiixed to the upper edge H of side wall l2 of the handbag and to the top edge 22 of the panel i1 clamping the two edges H and 22 rigidly together between the faces 12 and I3 of the frame 39.

The legs 14 and E5 of frame 69 are affixed to the adjacent V-shaped upper edge 16 of the side walls i4 and I5 clamping the upper edges E6 of side flaps 2 5 of the facing against the upper edges of said side walls.

Frame H3 is affixed to the upper edge ll of side wall [3 of the handbag, the faces l8 and '59 of the frame clamping said upper edge 7i and the upper edge 8i of a fabric lining 82 rigidly together. The upper ends 83 of a pair of straps 84 are also clamped between said faces 18 and T9, the lower ends 85 of said straps being affixed to a conventional accessory purse 86 to support the latter so that it rests on lining 82.

The legs 81 and 88 of frame iii are affixed to the adjacent V-shaped upper edge $6 of the side 14 and i5 clamping the associated lateral edges 89 of the lining 82 against the upper edges of said side walls.

The adjacent free edges of the lining 82 and the facing 2| are then stitched together at the bottom of the handbag as at 9i and at the sides thereof as at 92 to complete the assembly.

It is to be noted that frames 59 and 18 are hingedly connected as at 93 at the adjacent ends of legs 14, 8'! and 75, 88, respectively, and have a suitable catch 94 at the top thereof to keep the bag closed.

Thebag when opened provides free access to theinterior thereof and the user, when requiring.

any particular item, does not have to search through a jumble of articles at the bottom thereof but may readily locate the article she desires in the convenient and readily accessible pockets provided therefor on panel 11.

The depth of the handbag I I is such that when the pockets superposed on panel 11 are filled, the bag may still be closed without bulging the sides thereof; thereby resulting ina handbag that is practical, neat and pleasing in appearance.

"As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of the invention could be made Without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above descriptlon'or shown in the accompanying drawings shallbe interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting'seiisej Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A handbag comprising a container having side walls swinging apart and together, a panel positioned on one of said side walls, said panel comprising a stiffening member having a facing on one side thereof, a pocket on said panel, said pocket comprising a sheet of fabric of greater width than said panel and folded to double ply thickness, a cardboard stiffening liner between said plies, said sheet being afiixed at its bottom and lateral edges to said panel and having a pleat near one of the lateral edges thereof, there by permitting expansion of said pocket, a border afiixed to; said panel at the upper and lateral edges thereof, the lower edge of said border and the upper edge of said sheet having zipper" means thereon whereby said pocket may readily beopened and closed, a second pocket superposed on said first pocket and having its mouth extending parallel to the mouth of said first pocket and positioned therebelow, said second pocket comprisin'ga sheet of fabric folded to form a double ply and afiixed at its lateral and lower edges to the corresponding edges of said first pocket, said second pocket having pleats at the sides and bottom thereof to permit expansion of said pocket, the front wall of said second pocket having a slit through the folded upper edge thereof to form a third pocket, a "zipper closure affixed to the slit upper edge of said front wall and a stiffening member afiixed to each of the inner walls of said third pocket.

2. A handbag comprising a container having side walls swinging apart and together, a panel positioned on one of said side walls, said panel comprising a stiffening member having a facing on one side thereof, a pocket on said panel, said pocket comprising a sheet of fabric of greater idth than said panel and folded to double ply thickness, a .cardboard stiffening liner between said plies, said sheet being aiiixed at its bottom and lateral edges to said panel and having an ac cordion pleat near one of the lateral edges thereof, thereby permitting expansion of said pocket, a border amxed tosaid panel at the upper and lateral edgesthereoi-the lower edge of said border and the upper edge of said sheet having substantially flat. zipper means thereon whereby said pocket may readily be opened and closed. a second pocket superposed. on said first pocket and having-its mouth extending parallel to the mouth of said first pocket and positioned therebelow, saidsecond pocket comprising a sheet of fabric folded to form a double ply and afiixed at its .lateraland lower edges to the corresponding edges of said first pocket, said second pocket having pleats at the sides and bottom thereof to permit expansion of said pocket, the front wall of said second pocket havng a slit through the folded upper edge thereof to form a third pocket, a zipper closure aflixed to the slit upper edge of said front wall, a stiffening member affixed to each of the inner walls of said third pocket, and a fourth pocket afiixed to the outer wall of said third pocket having its mouth extending parallel to the mouth of said first pocket and positioned therebelow, said second pocket, said fourth pocket comprising a substantially rectangular strip of fabric affixed at its bottom and lateral edges to the corresponding edges of said third pocket, said strip being gathered in folds along its length to permit expansion of said fourth pocket.

3. As an article of manufacture, a panel for handbags, said panel comprising a stiffening member having a facing on one side thereof, said facing having wings extending beyond the lateral and bottom edges of said stiffening member, a pocket on said panel, said pocket comprising a sheet of fabric of greater width than said panel and folded to double ply thickness, a cardboard stiffening liner between said plies, said sheet being affixed at its bottom and lateral edges to said panel and having a pleat near one of the lateral edges thereof, thereby permitting expansion of said pocket, a border afiixed to said panel at the upper and lateral edges thereof, the lower edge of said border and the upper edge of said sheet having coacting zipper means thereon whereby said pocket may readily be opened and closed, a second pocket superposed over said first pocket and having its mouth extendin parallel to the mouth of said first pocket and positioned therebelow, said second pocket comprising a sheet of fabric folded to form a double ply and affixed at its lateral and lower edges to the corresponding edges of said first pocket, said second pocket having accordion pleats at the sides and bottom thereof to permit expansion of said pocket, the front wall of said second pocket having a slit through the folded upper edge thereof to form a third pocket having its mouth extending parallel to the mouth of said first pocket and positioned therebelow, said second pocket, a zipper closure aflixed to the slit upper edge of said front wall, and a stffening member affixed to each of the inner walls of said third pocket.

4. A handbag comprising a container having side walls swinging apart and together, a panel positioned on one of said side walls, said panel comprisinga stiffening member having a facing on one sidethereof, a pocket on said panel comprising a sheet of fabric folded to form a double ply and affixed at its lateral and lower edges to the corresponding edges of said panel, said pocket having pleats at the sides and bottom thereof to permit expansion of said pocket, the front wall of said ocket having a slit through the folded upper edge thereof to form another pocket, a zipper closure affixed to the slit upper edge of said front wall and a stiffening member affixed to each of the inner walls of said other pocket.

HENRY MEYERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,360,044 Stember Nov. 23, 1920 2,071,757 Matthews Feb. 23, 1937 2,289,304- Goldsmith July 7, 1942 2,413,465 Ohlsen Dec. 31, 1946 

